Karl Weber (actor)


Karl Weber was an actor in the era of old-time radio.

Early years

A native of Columbus Junction, Iowa, Weber attended Cornell College and was a graduate of the University of Iowa. He had three brothers and two sisters.

Stage

Before going into radio, Weber acted with Shakespearean troupes in the Midwest. In the late 1940s, he helped to found the New Stages off-Broadway group in New York City. His Broadway credits include The Land of Fame and Lady Behave.

Radio

Weber's roles in radio programs included those shown in the table below.
ProgramRole
Alias John FreedomJohn Freedom
The Doctor's WifeDr. Dan Palmer
Dr. SixgunDr. Ray Matson
Girl AloneJohn Knight
Inspector ThorneInspector Thorne
Lorenzo JonesVerne Massey
Nona from NowhereVernon Dutell
The Romance of Helen TrentBrett Chapman
The Second Mrs. BurtonBrad Burton
The Strange Romance of Evelyn WintersGary Bennett
When a Girl MarriesPhil Stanley
Woman in WhiteDr. Kirk Harding

Television

Weber played Arthur Tate in Search for Tomorrow.

Film

Weber portrayed FBI agent Charlie Reynolds in Walk East on Beacon.

Commercials

In the mid-1960s, Weber was featured in commercials for Avis Rent a Car. The company spent $6 million on the campaign in its first year. He also made commercials for Lyndon B. Johnson's and Nelson A. Rockefeller's campaigns for president.

Other activities

In 1968-1969, Weber was president of New York's chapter of the Screen Actors Guild. He also used his talent to record more than 200 books for the American Foundation for the Blind.

Personal life

Weber met his wife, Marjorie, when they were students at Cornell College. They had a daughter, Lynn, and two sons, Christopher and Mark.

Death

Weber died of congestive heart failure in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 30, 1990. He was 74. His survivors included a daughter, two sons, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, two brothers and a sister.